Queensland Reds 2026

[liquor box]

Problem with Latham is that his HC experience is the MLR which is marginally more resourced than a Prem Club. Not a problem with him personally but the experience.

He does have over a decade of coaching under his belt now though.

Richard Graham ticked many of the boxes that Latham doesn't but I can't see Latham being any worse.

Ronan O'Gara was supposedly interested in the Wallabies job, maybe he could coach the Reds for 5 or 6 years to be better qualified for future Wallabies jobs.

 

[Braveheart81]

Am I reading this right? This means that the HC "pathway" is a requirement to leave not just the Reds, but Australia? No, more than that. You'll have to find the right overseas pathway. Not US for one. And then fingers crossed they return to the Reds. At the right price.

Look, Wilson, you may well be right, but I'm not seeing the layout as comforting.

There's no best or most correct pathway.

The issue is that Super Rugby is a difficult competition so if that is your first head coaching role then you'll probably struggle.

Likewise, being an assistant Super Rugby coach isn't the next best preparation to being a Super Rugby head coach. Being the head coach of a team in a lower quality league is very likely to assist with your development.

The Reds have chosen several times to "invest" in a coach by giving them their first head coaching role (e.g. Richard Graham and Brad Thorn). Each time that has very clearly shown that there is a pretty steep learning curve. That's not to say the Reds' plan isn't a reasonable one but you need to accept that if your pathway is that you will try and promote from within then you need to acknowledge that you are almost certainly employing someone to be head coach before they are ready.

 

[liquor box]

https://www.theroar.com.au/2025/06/28/exclusive-pasitoa-was-considered-a-wallaby-in-waiting-now-the-future-star-is-without-a-super-contract/

I wouldn't mind us looking at picking up Pasitoa if he is a reasonable price. He could be a pretty handy player to have in the squad and certainly has some skills. I would rather have backups who have proven to be able to compete against men at super level.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

I think in a good settled side he’d be an asset and it’s last chance time for him tbh. Force seemed to not want to use him by the end of the season

 

[Wilson]

https://www.theroar.com.au/2025/06/28/exclusive-pasitoa-was-considered-a-wallaby-in-waiting-now-the-future-star-is-without-a-super-contract/

I wouldn't mind us looking at picking up Pasitoa if he is a reasonable price. He could be a pretty handy player to have in the squad and certainly has some skills. I would rather have backups who have proven to be able to compete against men at super level.

He'd be great depth and a worth betting on with a base contract, but we need to make sure we're covered at fullback before we go signing a 10/centre. Once we get that sorted he'd be an upgrade on Gibbs, but I wouldn't have him over any of our other backs.

 

[WoodysRFC]

So who are the likely frontrunners for Fullback? Heremaia Murray? Perhaps Flook gets shifted? Feel his skillset would suit Fullback.

Assuming of course that Jock doesn't sign on.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

I wonder if Flook has the explosiveness modern fullbacks need. He’s smart enough to cover the field position part but in attack they need genuine pace/power IMO crappy opinion.

I think Flook is a perfect organiser closer to the action.

 

[liquor box]

So who are the likely frontrunners for Fullback? Heremaia Murray? Perhaps Flook gets shifted? Feel his skillset would suit Fullback.

Assuming of course that Jock doesn't sign on.

I think he could convert to if Jock leaves, but I also think Flook would be a good 15 too.

Daugunu to 13 and Flook to 15?


I would like Pasitoa at 12, he could step in like Jock has this year but hopefully be a bit better due to his experience at 10 in the past.

I have never been the biggest fan of Paisami over the years so not preferring him is just my bias against him.

 

[SouthernX]

Smokey name for fullback
Jordan Petaia

allthough all reports are he is impressing at LAC. If he doesn’t make the 53 man roster think the door is open for him to return

 

[Wilson]

The biggest question is Jock, there's still an outside chance he re-signs though I wouldn't bet on it. If he does there's a bit more room to maneuver and we could probably focus on him with McCulloch and Murray as the backups.

Assuming he is gone though, we need someone ready to go at 15. McCulloch is still at least a year off being a viable option as a regular super starting 15, particularly after missing the whole season this year. There's an outside chance that either Flook or Murray could transition over the off season and be ready to go, but I'd want to have an alternative prepared if that was the aim.

In terms of potential signings, Glenn Vaihu looks like the only one I'd describe as anything like super rugby ready in Hospital's cup, but there are probably a few other guys who are ok as depth options. Further afield, Tom Banks is off contract but rumoured to be heading to Montpellier, and there's an outside chance James Ramm is off contract, but I think that's pretty unlikely at this stage. Isaac Lucas might also be off contract, but that's probably not happening without RA backing and I don't see the need at the national level. Otherwise it's a non-Australian option which should be fine from an RA perspective (there are heaps of qualified fullbacks signed to the other sides), but it's hard to know who that would be.

There's also a possibility of a Petaia return, but that is probably more likely for 2027. If that's looking more likely for 27 it wouldn't be the worst decision to either pay overs (within reason) to keep Campbell for another year. Even if lose Campbell it might be the case that we just bet on one of the current options (probably with Vaihu) to deliver, but there's some risk in that.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Smokey name for fullback
Jordan Petaia

allthough all reports are he is impressing at LAC. If he doesn’t make the 53 man roster think the door is open for him to return

2027 and he’ll be coming back heavier so don’t know how FB would go right away.

 

[Nuggetyflyhalf]

https://www.theroar.com.au/2025/06/28/exclusive-pasitoa-was-considered-a-wallaby-in-waiting-now-the-future-star-is-without-a-super-contract/

I wouldn't mind us looking at picking up Pasitoa if he is a reasonable price. He could be a pretty handy player to have in the squad and certainly has some skills. I would rather have backups who have proven to be able to compete against men at super level.

Reds should sign him

 

[Tomikin]

The biggest question is Jock, there's still an outside chance he re-signs though I wouldn't bet on it. If he does there's a bit more room to maneuver and we could probably focus on him with McCulloch and Murray as the backups.

Assuming he is gone though, we need someone ready to go at 15. McCulloch is still at least a year off being a viable option as a regular super starting 15, particularly after missing the whole season this year. There's an outside chance that either Flook or Murray could transition over the off season and be ready to go, but I'd want to have an alternative prepared if that was the aim.

In terms of potential signings, Glenn Vaihu looks like the only one I'd describe as anything like super rugby ready in Hospital's cup, but there are probably a few other guys who are ok as depth options. Further afield, Tom Banks is off contract but rumoured to be heading to Montpellier, and there's an outside chance James Ramm is off contract, but I think that's pretty unlikely at this stage. Isaac Lucas might also be off contract, but that's probably not happening without RA backing and I don't see the need at the national level. Otherwise it's a non-Australian option which should be fine from an RA perspective (there are heaps of qualified fullbacks signed to the other sides), but it's hard to know who that would be.

There's also a possibility of a Petaia return, but that is probably more likely for 2027. If that's looking more likely for 27 it wouldn't be the worst decision to either pay overs (within reason) to keep Campbell for another year. Even if lose Campbell it might be the case that we just bet on one of the current options (probably with Vaihu) to deliver, but there's some risk in that.

Whats wrong with playing HMP at fullback next year, he seems to fill in there if needed.

 

[Wilson]

Whats wrong with playing HMP at fullback next year, he seems to fill in there if needed.

I don't think he's anything more than occasional coverage at 15, and given he wasn't looked at there over Murray when Campbell was injured does make it look like the coaches see it that way too.

He's not a terrible fit for the position, but he needs plenty of work under the high ball and probably generally on back 3 play. I'm not sure he'll get the opportunity to spend the time he'd need there in the off season with Lynagh up with the wallabies though. Also doesn't help with the size issue we have in the backline in general.